Metal burial casket



jam i?, H95@ Original Filed Oct. 8, 1946 F. T. PADEN METAL BURIAL GASKET 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 als;

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METAL BURIAL GASKET Original Filed Oct. 8, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR feder F. T. PADEN METAL BURIAL GASKET Jan. i?, E95

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Oct. 8, 3,945

www Vp m m n@ mx NN NMR \.m.. QN m N Patented Jan. 17, 1950 METAL BURIAL GASKET Frederick T. Paden, Collingswood, N. J.

@riginal application October 8, 1946, Serial No. 701,861. Divided and this application May 18, 1948, Serial No. 27,812

Claims.

The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

VThis application is a division of my applicai tion Serial No. 701,861 for Metal burial casket, led October 8, 1946.

`This invention relates to a metallic receptacle, and more particularly, to a metallic burial casket.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved metallic receptacle open at the top and provided with a lid and in which the receptacle and lid are provided with outwardly extending iianges forming a joint between said receptacle V and lid, and in which reinforcing angle members are secured tothe anges wherein the vertical portion of one of the angles members overlaps the joint and the vertical portion of the other angle member provides a means for securing a molding to the upper portion of the receptacle.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved metal burial casket in which the main body is of seamless sheet metal construction and flanged outwardly at the top, and in which the lid is also of seamless sheet metal construction and flanged outwardly at its perimeter to form a joint with the ange of the body, and in which a gasket is provided between the flanges, and securing means are provided passing through the flanges outwardly of the gasket so that the seal-tight character of the casket is preserved.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved metallic burial casket of seamless sheet metal construction in which the bottom of the casket is convexed downwardly and is supported by a cradle, in which the upper portion of the body is flanged outwardly to re-A ceive a lid thereon with a gasket sealed therebetween, in which the lid is secured to the iiange of the body and outwardly of the gasket seal, and the'cradle is secured to the bottom of the casket body by means welded to the exterior of (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) Y of this invention and with the lid and gasket cut the casket body so that the casket is not pierced away to show the main body flange;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the receptacle of this invention and showing a half portion of the receptacle;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View through the cradle structure of this invention and showing its manner of connection to the main receptacle body;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view showing the joint structure between the lid and the receptacle body;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View showing the means for securing the cradle structure to the receptacle body.

Referring to the drawings, the receptacle or casket oi this invention is composed of a main body portion l of seamless sheet metal construction and which is preferably formed by deep stamping of a unitary sheet. At the bottom of the main body portion l there is provided a supporting cradle denoted generally by reference numeral 2, also of stamped sheet metal construction. At the top of the main body portion l there is provided a seamless sheet metal lid, denoted generally by reference numeral 3. The lid 3 is also preferably formed by stamping. As shown in Figure 1, the sides of the receptacle body I are provided with suitable hand rails 4 secured in brackets 5 suitably secured to the exterior of the body l. The design of the hand rail bracket structure and the general design or" the casket shown in Figure l are covered in co-pending design applications, Serial Nos. D. 131,670, D. 131,-

o 671, and D. 131,672, al1 led July 18, 1946. Application Serial No. D. 131,670 is now Patent No. Des. 153,165 and application Serial No. D. 131,672 is now Patent No. Des.l51,166, both dated March 22, 1949, and application Serial No. D. 131,671 is abandoned. The upholstery l shown in Figure 2 is of conventional type and forms no partof the present invention.

As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cradle structure 2, formed of resilient sheet metal construction, is provided with a central upper portion 6 and side upper portions l for directly engaging the convex bottom 8 of the main body l. When the cradle is in secured position as shown in Figure 3, the portions 6 and 1 have the same conveXity as the bottom 8 of the casket body so as to provide a substantial supporting surface. To enable the cradle 2 to be positioned on a flat horizontal surface, it is provided with intermediate lower portions 9 positioned between and below the portions 6 and I and lying in a substantially horizontal plane. The outer ends of the cradle 2 are provided with moldings IG formed by extending the sheet metal oi cradle 2 downwardly and outwardly, and then upwardly and inwardly, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Although the cradle 2 is illustrated as being formed of separate sections each of which may be easily stamped and which sections are connected together at the base of the molding Ill, it is within the scope of this invention to i'orm cradle 2 of a single sheet oi metal. The molding lil extends continuously around the cradle and if desired can be made oi several lengthwise sections suitably joined to gether. The extreme ends of the cradle 2 are inturned under the body l as at II, the portions II being adapted to closely engage the portions I2 of the body I, which portions I2 are concaved downwardly and interconnect the walls I3 and the downwardly convex bottom 3 of the body i. 'Io secure the cradle 2 to the bottom of the casket body, there is provided a plurality or stud bolts ill at spaced intervals around the bottom 8 and welded to the exterior of the bottom 8, as shown in detail in Figure 6. It is to be noted that the bolts Id do not pierce the main body of the casket and thus the seal-tight character of the casket body is not destroyed by the securing means for the cradle 2. To complete the securing means, for each bolt id, there is provided a threaded nut I5 which threads onto the bolt Ill passing through an opening IS in the cradle 2 at portion 'l thereof. The securing means I6, I5 are provided at spaced intervals along the casket to provide ior irm engagement between the cradle 2 and the bottom of the casket body.

In order to provide for a tight fit between the cradle and the casket body, the cradle 2 is formed with the portions l, and II thereof normally lying in a curvature of greater convexity than that of the bottom of the casket body so that when the portions 6 and II contact the bottom or' the casket body, the portions 1 will lie in slightly spaced relationship from the bottom of the casket body as seen in Figure 4. Then when the nuts l5 are threaded tightly onto the bolts I4, the portions 'l of the cradle will be carried up tightly against the bottom of the casket, and due to the resilient structure of the sheet metal cradle 2, this will force portions 6 and II more tightly against the bottom of the casket body to form a wedge or press rit. This action is clearly illustrated in Figure 4 where the parts are shown in position immediately prior to tightening of the securing means i4, l5. In order to facilitate shipping the Gaskets or receptacles in a shipping case or crate, there are provided a number of studs Il which are tapped to receive any suitable shipping bolt for tying the casket or receptacle down in the shipping case or crate.

The upper portions of the walls I3 of the main body I are bent outwardly to form an endless ange i8 around the opening to the body I. The outer extremity of the flange I8 is down-turned at I9, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5. Also, the ange I8 is provided with an upwardly formed bead 2t for a purpose to be describedl hereinafter. In order to reinforce the flange I8, a reinforcing angle member or members ZI are provided all around the body I, as shown in Figures 3 and 5.. The angle members 2I having their horizontal portions 22 suitably secured as by welding or by mechanical means to the under surface of the flange I8. The down-turned portion I9 of the flange i8 is bent over the reinforcing angle members 2i, as illustrated. The vertical portions 23 of the angle members 2I extend downwardly and are positioned outwardly of the horizontal portions 22 and are spaced from the walls I3 of the body portion I, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. An upper molding 24 extends continuously around the upper portion of the casket body I and has its upper portion abutting down-turned portion I9 at 2'1 and overlapping, and secured to the vertical portions 23 or the angle members 2| by means of suitable spaced screws 25 or by welding. The lower portion of the molding 24 is bent upwardly at 26 and is received by the retaining clips 21, suitably spaced and secured to the walls I3 of the body portion I. In applying the molding 24, the portion 26 thereof is wedged under the retaining clips 21 and when the screws 25 are applied or moulding welded, the side edge 26 is held by the resiliency of the sheet metal material of which the molding 24 is constructed. If desired, the molding 24 can be made of either a single or several longitudinal sections suitably joined together to encircle the body I.

The lid 3 has its perimeter hanged outwardly as at 28 for cooperation with the endless flange I3 to form a joint between the lid 3 and the main body portion I. The ange 2B is provided with a downwardly formed bead 29 for a purpose to be described hereinafter and as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5. Also, in order to reinforce the sheet metal flange 28 a reinforcing angle member or members 3l? are provided with their horizontal portions SSI suitably secured, as by welding, or by mechanical means, to the top surface of the flange 28 and with their vertical portions 32 extending downwardly and outwardly of the angle member 2i and the molding 2li, and in such manner as to overlap the joint between the flanges I8 and 28.

In order to provide a tight seal between the lid 3 and body portion l, there is provided an endless gasket B which extends continuously around the casket opening to provide an air-tight construction when the lid is secured. The gasket 36 is preferably suitably secured as by an adhesive or other suitable means either to the lid 3 or the body portion I, and is positioned to cooperate with the beads 2l! and 29, as clearly illustrated in Figures` 3 and 5. As seen in these gures, the beads 26 and 2li are positioned in offset overlapping relationship and are wedged against the gasket 3B to form in effect an S-joint to further provide an air-tight construction. Also, it isy to be noted that the gasket 35 is enlarged inwardly so that it dares as illustrated to closely lit the inwardly diverging surfaces of the lid and the main body. This provides a wedge construction so that any attempted escape of air from the receptacle or casket will tend to wedge the gasket more tightly into contact with the surfaces of the lid and body and thus render the gasket still more air-tight.

In order to provide a securing means for holding the lid 3 down tightly against the gasket 36, a number of suitable bolts 31, as shown in Figure 3, are provided at spaced intervals around the periphery of the lid 3, the bolts passing through the anges I8 and 28 and through the horizontal portions of the reinforcing angle members 2l and The bolts 31 are preferably of the cam action type, which may be secured by turning the bolts 3l a quarter turn. Also, preferably the bolts 3T are provided with a spring means to raise the bolt to an upper position when released so that one can ascertain Aat a glance that the bolt is not in locking position. A number of these bolts are available on the market and any one will serve the purpose of this invention. The bolts 31 are positioned outwardly of the gasket 36 so as not to affect the seal-tight character of the casket which is not pierced inwardly of the gasket 36. In nal assembly the lower portions of the bolts 31 are concealed by the molding 24.

It is evident that applicant has provided a seamless receptacle or casket of sheet metal construction which has a deep-stamped main body and a stamped lid, and in which suitable reinforcingA angle members are provided at the joint between the body and the lid, and that the reinforcing angle members are utilized to cover the joint, and carry the upper molding of the casket body, and in such a manner that the securing means passing through the anges has its lower end concealed by the upper molding. Also, it is to be noted that neither the lid nor the casket body is pierced at any point in a manner to destroy the air-tight character of the casket since the bolts 31 pierce the flanges outwardly of the gasket 36 and all elements fastened to the exterior` of the casket body l are secured by fastening means which do not pierce the body I; as for example, the retaining clips 21 and the stud bolts I4 are welded to exterior of the body I to preserve its seal-tight character. It is also to be noted that the cradle structure 2 provides a support for the casket so that it may be supported on a flat surface, and that the cradle structure specically provides for a lower molding l in keeping with the upper molding 24, and which lower molding is provided with a linger space behind it so that it can also be used as a handhold. At the same time the iinger space provides access to the fastening means i4, l5 so that the cradle 2 can be secured to the bottom of the casket body. It is apparent that applicant has provided a receptacle or casket construction which is air-tight, lightweight, and of durable construction. Also since the lid 3, the body I, and cradle 2 are of stamped sheet metal construction, the casket parts may be readily stamped and quickly assembled on a mass production basis.

Though this invention is particularly applicable to metallic caskets, it is not limited thereto since the features of this invention are equally applicable to other metallic receptacles or receptacles made of other materials such as wood, plastics, etc., and the use of the term casket, as used in the specication and claims, should be read to cover other types of receptacles as well.

While the invention has been described in more or less detail, it is not to be limited thereby as changes may be made in the form, arrangement and construction of parts, and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. A metallic receptacle comprising a main body portion of sheet metal construction and provided with upwardly extending side and end walls and a top opening, said side and end walls having their top portions bent outwardly to form a continuous horizontally extending ange of sheet metal around said opening, a sheet metal lid for said body portion, said lid having its perimeter formed into a continuous horizontally outwardly extending flange cooperating with said rst-mentioned flange to form a joint, and reinforcing angle members having their horizontal portions secured to the respective flanges to strengthen same,

the vertical portion of the angle member secured to saidrst-mentioned flange being spaced outwardly from said respective walls, and the vertical portion of the angle member secured to said second-mentioned flange being positioned outwardly of the angle member secured to said firstmentioned iiange and overlapping the joint between said body portion and said lid.

2. A metallic receptacle comprising a main body portion of sheet metal construction and provided with upwardly extending walls and a top opening, said walls having their top portions -iiared outwardly to form an endless horizontally extending ange around said opening, a sheet metal lid for said body portion, said lid having its perimeter formed into an endless horizontally extending ange cooperating with said first-mentioned flange to form a joint, an endless reinforcing angle member having its horizontal portion secured to said iirst-mentioned flange to strengthen same, the vertical portion of said angle member being spaced outwardly from said walls, and an endless sheet metal molding having one side connected to the vertical portion of said angle member and the other side connected to said walls.

3. A metal burial casket comprising a main body portion of sheet metal seamless construction and provided with upwardly extending walls and a top opening, said walls having their top portions iiared outwardly to form an endless horizontally extending flange around said opening, a seamless sheet metal lid for said body portion, said lid having its perimeter formed into an endless horizontally extending ange cooperating with said rst-mentioned flange to form a joint, reinforcing angle members having their horizontal portions secured respectively to said flanges to strengthen same, means passing through said flanges and the horizontal portions of said angle members for securing said lid to said body portion, and an endless gasket between said anges and positioned inwardly of said securing means, said flanges being formed with overlapping beads, respectively, to engage said gasket when said lid is in closed position on said body portion.

4. A metal burial casket comprising a main body portion of sheet metal construction and provided with upwardly extending walls and a top opening, said walls having their top portions flared outwardly to form an endless horizontally extending iiange around said opening, a sheet metal lid for said body portion, said lid having its perimeter formed into an endless horizontally extending iiange cooperating with said first-mentioned flange to form a joint, reinforcing angle members having their horizontal portions secured respectively to said iianges to strengthen same, the vertical portion of the angle member secured to said rst-mentioned flange being spaced outwardly from said respective walls, and the vertical portion of the angle member secured to said second-mentioned flange being positioned outwardly of the angle member secured to said rstmentioned flange and overlapping said joint.

5. A metal burial casket comprising a main body portion of sheet metal construction and provided with upwardly extending walls and a top opening, said walls having their top portions flared outwardly to form an endless horizontally extending flange around said opening, a sheet metal lid for said body portion, said lid having its perimeter formed into an endless horizontally extending ange cooperating with said rst-mentioned flange to form a joint, reinforcing angle 7 members having their horizontal portions secured respectively to said flanges to strengthen same, the vertical portion of the angle member secured to said mst-mentioned :flange being spaced outwardly from said respective Walls, and the vertical poi-tion of the angle mem-ber secu-red to saidsecond-mentioned flange beingY positioned outwardly of the anglev member secured to said rst-mentioned` ange and overlapping said joint, an endless sheet metal molding having one side connected to the Vertical portion of the angle member secured to said mst-mentioned' ange and the other side connected to saidwalls, and securing n ieems passing through said Bauges and thehorizontal portions of said angle members and 15 having'theilrlower ends eoiicesisled` by said; endless molding.

FREDERICK T. PADEN.

REFERENCES CITED' The. following references are` of record in the file of this patent.'

UNITE!)V STATES- PATENTS Number Net-mel Date 636,766 Dez-visA Nov. 14, 1899 134861,38@ King Mr. 11:, 1924 1,762,578- I-liserr Juney 10, 1930 233921298; Thommen Y Jan. 1, 11946 

